Does Steroid Use in Transplant Patients Undergoing Bariatric Surgery Independently Impact Outcomes?

Corticosteroids have been a mainstay of immunosuppression in patients after solid organ transplantation. Due to deleterious effects, there is a push to minimize steroid use. The impact of corticosteroid use on prior solid organ transplant patients undergoing metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) is unknown. The aim of this study was to determine if corticosteroid use independently impacts surgical outcomes after MBS in solid organ transplant patients.

A retrospective analysis was performed on patients undergoing sleeve gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in the 2017 Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation Quality and Improvement Project Participant Use File database. Patients with a history of solid organ transplantation were identified and further stratified by corticosteroid use. Univariable and multivariable regression for multiple postoperative outcomes were performed.

Overall findings are summarized in visual abstract. Of 382 prior solid organ transplant patients, 42% (n = 160) were on corticosteroids. Patients on corticosteroids had significantly higher overall morbidity (16% versus 9%, P < 0.05). After multivariable analysis, corticosteroid use had a two-fold increase in overall morbidity (odds ratio 2.05, P = 0.0034) but without an increased risk for overall morbidity related to MBS (odds ratio 2.06, P = 0.061).

Solid organ transplant patients undergoing MBS on corticosteroids have a significantly increased rate of overall morbidity (P < 0.05) but not morbidity related to bariatric surgery.